The Roar
The Roar

The Roar

Gibbo

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Joined April 2021

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Yes, in terms of English spinners, he’s quite well-known. In terms of general cricketers, I’d venture to say that most modern cricket fans have never heard of him.

Three little-known cricketers who were more than the game

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Cricket
 
May

It’s a bit like Imran Khan becoming Pakistani PM. None of these guys, though, had shortened careers.

Three little-known cricketers who were more than the game

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Cricket
 
May

Imagine being the PM and going back to your local club? “Hey mate, any chance of getting some more grassroots funding?”

Three little-known cricketers who were more than the game

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Cricket
 
May

This is very interesting. I always maintain that the readers are the best researchers cause they’ve got more knowledge collectively.

Three little-known cricketers who were more than the game

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Cricket
 
May

I didn’t know that one! That’s very interesting and terribly sad.

Three little-known cricketers who were more than the game

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Cricket
 
May

The Rev DS Shepherd was on my initial list, but I wanted 3 different players who did 3 different things in 3 different areas. You’re right. You could’ve had a number of different players from both wars, but Healey Verity stuck out because he actively prepared to go to war rather than be forced into it, like so many others.

Three little-known cricketers who were more than the game

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Cricket
 
May

I’d forgotten about that one! And yes, not taking life too seriously would be a great theme for Symonds’s life as a whole. He took fun seriously, cricket, fishing, beer, camping and mates were all his type of fun.

Three things I learned from Andrew Symonds

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Cricket
 
May

Barring half their side being injured, the Cowboys will make the top 8. Granted, they’ll probably be either 7 or 8, but they’ve played really well so far this season save for against Canterbury-Bankstown and NZ. They have a better side than the Dragons, Broncos, Raiders, Titans, Bulldogs, Tigers and Warriors. If they can play as well as they did against the Roosters and like they did in the second half against Canberra, they’ll give a few teams headaches this season, I think.

NRL Round 6 talking points: Gaps are appearing - so who's a write-off and who's repairable?

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League
 
Apr

Never had the Federal Treasurer comment before! 😂 Why do you say that “the main reason Langer departed was he viewed the Australian cricket team as his project”?

Is the Australian cricket team becoming dangerously arrogant again?

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Cricket
 
Apr

Fair comments and I do agree that their behaviour is a step up from what we’ve seen in the past.

I’d say this in your response. Firstly, I love the “trademark pending” after The Australian Way. Definitely should be making royalties off that one! 😂 Secondly, it’s not the coach who selects the teams. It’s the selectors. I agree. The India series were lost because of the arrogance of persisting with the same players over and over and over again. I called for Michael Neser to make his debut in the last India series at the Gabba where he’d know the track and was having a blinder of a season, and look what happened when the same thing happened (under Langer’s watch) at the MCG against the Poms? Some bloke named Scott Boland ended up almost being the leading wicket-taker in the series in just 3 Tests!

I know it’s not the 90s, but the transition between Border and Taylor happened without the need to change coaches as well. Bob Simpson became what Border wanted (more hands-on) and was able to adapt to what Taylor wanted (more administrative, less hands-on).

Is the Australian cricket team becoming dangerously arrogant again?

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Cricket
 
Apr

I’ve just finished reading AB’s autobiography, and he indicates that this was how Marsh was seen by opposition players at times. Others who’ve played in that era have backed it up.

I remember when the scandal broke in 1998, and I specifically remember that the term “match-fixing” was connected to it, hence my use of the term. Giving any sort of information to an unknown entity who could pass it on to the opposition, even pitch information, is at least unsavoury if not deliberately bowling no-balls to impact the outcome of matches or to get money. It’s the same way that using cough lollies or red snakes when shining the ball is still technically ball tampering even if it’s “technically” legal.

I apologise if the article appeared “sensationalist”. I wasn’t trying to be sensationalist as much as I was trying to get everyone to reflect.

Losing Marsh and Warne gives us new perspective

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Cricket
 
Mar

When Shane stuck to tactics, spin bowling or anything (really) to do with cricket, he was spot on. When he made more outlandish suggestions (like picking Riley Meredith and D’Arcy Short to play Tests), you just shook your head and asked why?

Losing Marsh and Warne gives us new perspective

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Cricket
 
Mar

Perhaps a little harsh for Marsh, but Rod Marsh always seemed to be looking for “the next thing”. I think he did a lot of good, but he never seemed 100% satisfied. Can you really ever say that, outside of his children, Warne found true happiness?

Losing Marsh and Warne gives us new perspective

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Cricket
 
Mar

Ah yes indeed. I knew it was Whaka-something. Plus, wasn’t Benji known for his prowess in the snow? 😂 I’ll stop there before I get kicked off this board.

Bring the Winter Olympics to Australia!

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Olympics
 
Feb

ANZCC (Australia and New Zealand Cricket Competition) or something like that? Sounds like the defunct Champions League (which I was always a fan of).

Two big issues to address if we want to make the Big Bash great again

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Cricket
 
Jan

Tough luck if it runs into other series. If the BBL were shorter, they wouldn’t have as many issues with this.

CA shouldn’t be losing money. Their revenue has never been better in both foot traffic and viewer traffic. COVID was a big impact, yes, and no crowds was hard, but the NRL managed it in arguably worse situations. So, yes, cry poor, but a longer BBL is not the answer.

Two big issues to address if we want to make the Big Bash great again

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Cricket
 
Jan

Let the cricket advertise itself, hey? Novel idea… 😂

Two big issues to address if we want to make the Big Bash great again

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Cricket
 
Jan

Indeed we just might do that. I’m a fan of international tours beginning in March to give a full round of Shield matches in Feb to allow for preparation time. These days with COVID, they might get one game at most.

Two big issues to address if we want to make the Big Bash great again

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Cricket
 
Jan

You raise some great points, Tempo. Obviously, for this to work, the Australian calendar needs to be rejigged. I’ve never been a huge fan of T20s after the Tests anyway as they were played in that interim between the BBL and Shield or even worse, smack bang in the middle of the Shield season. Give space to both the BBL and the Shield, I say, and allow both to shine. If Aussie players can play in the BBL, it’ll add some star power. If they can’t/won’t/want a break, then so be it, and they oughtn’t to be criticised for it.

Two big issues to address if we want to make the Big Bash great again

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Cricket
 
Jan

Perhaps it wouldn’t, Paul, and thanks for your comment. I have a suspicion, though, that those not battling niggles would come back for a least a few games.

I think that playing cricket in a bubble is probably going to be around for awhile yet. Sporting administrators are way too cautious when it comes to COVID (I’ll write an article about that someday) in comparison to the way the rest of society (bar WA, and again, there’s probably an article there too) is managing it.

Two big issues to address if we want to make the Big Bash great again

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Cricket
 
Jan

Of course not. You’ve just pointed out the clear flaw in the scheduling. There are way too many games already. Slash it in half and there’s a good compromise.

Two big issues to address if we want to make the Big Bash great again

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Cricket
 
Jan

The issue with that timing is that then kids wouldn’t be able to go because they’d be in school. The BBL is predominantly designed to drive a younger audience to cricket. Now, the best advertisement for cricket is cricket itself, obviously, so then just play normal cricket and let the best teams win. But the key is to have a younger audience be able to come if that’s your target market.

Two big issues to address if we want to make the Big Bash great again

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Cricket
 
Jan

Run it from January 1-31. Give it 31 days to get all the matches in. For 54 games, that works out to be less than 2 a day, and, as you say, with double and triple headers, that’s eminently doable. My concern is that after 54 BBL matches, 5 Tests, 7 ODIs (or however many there are) plus 6 T20Is, the public is cricket-weary by the end of the season.

As a cricket nut, I love stories like Peter Hatzoglou coming from grade cricket into the BBL or Justin Avendano, Daniel Sams or Ben Dwarshius who are all grade cricketers and all but Sams find themselves without state contracts. But you’re right. The public needs to see Smith, Labuschagne, Head, Khawaja, Carey and the likes coming back to play.

Two big issues to address if we want to make the Big Bash great again

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Cricket
 
Jan

Thanks, Paul. I value your opinion greatly. I obviously wasn’t clear enough in my article initially that this shouldn’t necessarily apply to the entire side. If there are obvious places where they shine, like Boland at the MCG or Neser at the Gabba, then pick them. But don’t select Boland at the MCG, call it “horses for courses” but not pick Neser at the Gabba.

I also argued for Khawaja playing over Head or Harris because Khawaja has a great record on most grounds in Australia (particularly the SCG).

Obviously, they can’t carry a squad of 30-40 players, but don’t apply one policy to one bowler and not to all bowlers. Using the same logic, Starc and Lyon should be rested in Hobart because of their atrocious records in the 5th Test of the series.

Is it really horses for courses? The lack of consistency in Australian selection is frustrating

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Cricket
 
Jan

What frustrates me is how the selectors used the “injury” excuse on both Richardson and Neser to prevent them from playing in Melbourne (even though both could’ve played), yet Starc injures himself batting and was back to batting and bowling as normal. Hazlewood bowled 5 overs with a side strain in Brisbane and few people batted an eyelid. It’s ridiculous.

Is it really horses for courses? The lack of consistency in Australian selection is frustrating

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Cricket
 
Jan
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